UFC Perth co-main event falls through after last-minute injury, card down to 14 fights

The UFC is gearing up for its Fight Night in Perth on September 28, 2025, at RAC Arena, but fans will see a change in the lineup. One of the co-main events, a light heavyweight bout between Junior Tafa and Ibo Aslan, has been pulled due to an injury. The promotion did not clarify which of the two fighters was forced to withdraw.The cancelled fight carried significant intrigue: both Tafa (with a perfect 6-0 record of knockout wins) and Aslan (whose 14 wins are all by knockout or technical knockout) offered real promise of fireworks. It was being billed as one of the knockout-heavy matchups on the card.With that fight off, the event is now down to 14 bouts. However, the UFC has adjusted its schedule to compensate. Notably, Justin Tafa, brother of Junior, had his bout moved up to the main card (against newcomer Louie Sutherland) from prelims. Jimmy Crute vs. Ivan Erslan has been promoted to the penultimate slot before the headliner (Carlos Ulberg vs. Dominick Reyes).The removal of a co-main event so close to fight night is always a blow, especially one with high knockout potential. For local fans in Australia, losing Junior Tafa’s fight, his second appearance in Perth, adds extra disappointment. Still, the card remains strong, anchored by Ulberg vs. Reyes and bolstered by an array of ANZ (Australia-New Zealand) talent. Also Read: Perth to host multiple UFC and WWE events in landmark dealThe UFC hasn't been focusing on training with the specifics of this injury, so we might be on the brink of wondering if a replacement is under consideration, as the new fight order hints at a promotion intent on maintaining its momentum and preserving the appeal of this card. This may alter expectations and hype surrounding some of the matchups.